The National tribune., 1887-06-23
THE REBEL FLAGS.
A Washington Conrad. Talk, Right Out in nsetIn

The Governor Of Virginia has been notified by
AdJt-Gen. Drum that the President has approved
the Recommendation that all the flags in the GUS
tody of the War Department be returned to the au-
thorites OF the respective States in which the regt-
ments which bore them were organized. for final
disposition. Under this action the flags belonging
TO late volunteer organizations in Virginia will be
returned. With each flag will be sent little his
tory of its capture.
The above item from the Post coupled with
the statement that Gen. Drum desires to remove
everything that would remind the late rebels
that there had been q war. seems to call for
some notice.
First Where does Gen. Drum, or the Secre-
tary of War, or the President, OF ybody, OBJ
tain the authority to do this thing? These
flags were captured in battle by men who gave
their blood and lives for them. They are the
trophies of patriotism, and belong to the
United States Government, and not to Gen.
Drum, nor the Secretary of War. nor the Presi-
dent. Certainly they have no authority to
give them away. Congress alone can author
ize such disposition of them.
Next Is it right or proper 10 do this thirg2
We seem TO be sinking into the slum Of namby-
pambyism and practieing self-emasculatiOn to
an extent which excites the contemptuOus
wonder Of every healthy mind. Gen. Drum
and some other officials are so exceedingly ten
der-hearted and tender-footed that in their ex-
cessive zeal to spare any unpleasant remem-
brances on the part of the late misguided
they are willing to give up even the sacred
memories of the great war. They ask Us to
hide away our battlefags, and return to the
defeated the trophies we won, so that there
may be no unpleasant sights presented 10 their
eyes. If this be right, then go to the legiti-
mate extent of the argument: fold up the Stars
and Stripes, for those stars cleaned through the
smoke of every battle as the inspiration to pat
riOtic sacrifice, and those stripes were dyed
with the sacred blood of the loyal men who
loved the old flag. Fold this flag up tenderly
If you will, and then sound the " assembly"
for all the old veterans who still cumber the
earth; let them come together, bringing
their comrades who left on bloody fields their
legs and arms, gave up in agony of prison
life their health. Then summon the still sor-
rowing and struggling mothers, widows and
daughters whose lives were wrecked. Let this
army march again-nOt 10 the glory that was
won; not to the plaudits of loving millions
who enjoy the blessings of their Union; not to
honOred and prominent places in the worlds
eyes, but TO the obscurity of some recess, where
they may never again be seen or heard from,
lest they bring unpleasant recOllections to the
men who tried to destroy the Nation. Pull
down your heroic statues, blot out your pictures
and burn your history of Union triumph.
For Of such is the Kingdom Of Folly and
Imbecility.
The true, honest American citizen wants
none of this. He wants the world to remem-
| ber that there was war of rebellion; that the
treason was wrong. eternally wrong; and that
/ the Union is right, eternally right. They
want it remembered that treason was over
| thrown; that the Union was saved. They
want these facts to remain in imperishable
chracters in letters of bronze and on the pages
OF history. They want the Grand Army badge
/ to be one of honor and distinction, and they
| want to cultivate patriotism by hOnOring
I patriots Let the glorious banners of the tri-
umphant loyal armies be blazoned with every
battle; let every trophy of their gallantry
float in the National halls build monuments
and erect statues and let no effort be spared
to honor the triumph of loyalty.
So much as foundation for patriotism.
There is no bloody shirt" in this. We have
forgiven the men who inaugurated and carried
on the rebellion they have full share in the
control of our Government; no penalties rest
upon them. We love them, and We would do
them only good; but they are men, not babies,
I and if we make fools or poltroon5 of ourselves
/ they would laugh at US and scorn US.
Mr.. President, preserve our military tro-
phies, for our blood has bathed them, and you
have no right to give them up.-VETERAN,
Washington, ID. G.